Phillip Brunelle, director

From across the United States have come composers and arrangers whose work contributes to this collection of Christmas music. These are carols from around the world brought together in arrangements that reflect an inherently American diversity and spirit. From Virgil Thomson's camp meeting setting of "The Holly and the Ivy" and Steve Barnett's swing verson of "Go Tell It on the Mountain" to Randall Davidson's homespun "Christ Was Born on Christmas Day" and Conrad Susa's magnificent Carols & Lullabies, commissioned from Susa specifically for VocalEssence. Maestro Brunelle has chosen carols-both familiar and unfamiliar-tied to one another by their inventiveness, charm and beauty in one of the year's most exciting new holiday discs.

1-11. Carols & Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest: Conrad Susa - [ 21.47 ]
12. What Sweeter Music : Michael Fink [ 2.40 ]
13. Sussex Carol: Traditional, arr. Dale Wood - [ 2:26 ]
14. Sing Hallelu!: Stephen Paulus - [ 2:48 ]
15. Pat-a-Pan: Traditional, arr. Robert J. Batastini - [ 1.35 ]
16. Go Tell It on the Mountain: Traditional, arr. Steve Barnett - [ 4.45 ]
17. Christ Was Born on Christmas Day (:30) : Traditional, arr. Randall Davidson - [ 2.16 ]
18. O Little Town of Bethlehem: Phillips Brooks-Lewis Redner, arr. Stephen Paulus - [ 3.49 ]
19. The Friendly Beasts: Traditional, arr. Robert Farlee - [ 3.04 ]
20. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly: Traditional, arr. Daniel Kallman - [ 1.53 ]
21. Ding, Dong, Merrily on High: Traditional, arr. Chester Alwes - [ 1.41]
22. 'Tis Winter Now: Traditional, arr. Monte Mason - [ 2.39 ]
23. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear: Richard Willis, arr. Philip Brunelle - [ 3.18 ]
24. Away in a Manger: W.J. Kirkpatrick, arr. Bradley Ellingboe - [ 2:20 ]
25. The Holly and the Ivy : Traditional, arr. Virgil Thomson - [ 3.43 ]

Total Playing Time - 57.24